Costs are up, customers are spending carefully, and 43% of Canadian small business owners say 2026 is going worse than last year. Still, some businesses keep growing, and they’re doing it by running differently.

In episode 2 of Built on Growth, Anastasia Hambali brings on Nicole Parmar, Founder of OMTM.AI, to talk about how Canadian SMBs are really holding up right now and where technology makes a measurable difference, beyond writing emails and social posts.

Anastasia and Nicole go on to discuss what separates the businesses that are struggling from the ones still growing, why most owners have a “leak problem” instead of a lead problem, how much missed calls really cost, and how AI can catch that lost revenue. They also cover real examples for dental clinics, salons and HVAC businesses, the biggest AI myth to drop, and the red flags to watch for when buying AI tools or hiring consultants.

We appreciate you listening to Built on Growth and hope you enjoy this episode!

Like this episode? Be sure to leave a review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with us on all social platforms or feel free to visit our website to reach out to us to learn more: https://merchantgrowth.com/

Every spring, a fresh pool of government funding opens up for Canadian small businesses — and every year, most of it goes unclaimed.

In episode 1 of Built on Growth, Anastasia Hambali brings on Stephanie Sang, Founder of Granted Consulting, to chat about government grants and the role they play in helping Canadian SMBs fund growth without giving up equity or taking on more debt than they need to.

Anastasia and Stephanie go on to chat about how grants work alongside loans and equity, the biggest categories worth pursuing this fiscal year, what a successful grant application actually looks like, the hidden costs of the process, and the red flags every owner should watch for when working with consultants.

We appreciate you listening to Built on Growth and hope you enjoy this episode!

Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with us on all social platforms or feel free to visit our website to reach out to us to learn more: https://merchantgrowth.com/